A Pembrokeshire county councillor has warned his constituents of potential further ‘bleak’ times ahead - with either a further council tax hike on the cards or significant cuts to more services, to allow the Local Authority to balance the books.

Representing the wards of St. Florence and St. Mary Out Liberty (New Hedges), Cllr Rhys Jordan stated in his first newsletter since the summer recess: “As we look ahead to the new year, we are once again faced with the daunting task of budget setting.

“The financial outlook for the next year is, frankly, bleak. We are looking at a £30 million-plus deficit, which presents us with some very tough decisions.

“In order to bridge this gap, we will either need to raise council tax again or make significant cuts to services.

“Neither option is ideal, and I know both will have serious implications for our residents. Some of you may have already heard about the reduction of certain services, such as day centres, which are vital to many in our community.

“I’ve always been vocal about my belief that, as a relatively small council, we need to focus on delivering our statutory services to a high standard.

“This will inevitably mean rethinking how we deliver non-statutory services and making difficult decisions about which services we can realistically continue to provide.

“I want to reassure you that I will continue to fight for the services we need, while also ensuring that the council provides value for money,” continued Cllr Jordan, who said that ‘balancing the books is never easy’, especially when it comes to services that people rely on.

“I am committed to making sure we navigate this challenging period with the best interests of our community in mind.

In the coming months, I will be working closely with colleagues to explore every option available to us as we move into the budget-setting process.

“We will need to think creatively, and in some cases, make sacrifices, but my priority remains ensuring that the most vulnerable in our community are protected, and that statutory services are delivered effectively and efficiently.

“It’s going to be a challenging time for all of us, but I’m confident that by working together, we can find solutions that work for our community,” he added, encouraging residents to get in touch with any feedback on matters, or to report any specific issues they may have in their ward.